Massage device



June 23. 1931. w. M. F. SHERWOOD MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1930 //v VEN TOR. WMESHE/FWOOD a. M M

Patented June 23,. 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM MARTIN, FENNELL SHERWOOD, OF LONDON, E GLA D PATENT OFFICE.

MASSAGE DEVICE Application filed J'anuary 17, 1930, Serial No.

' vention is to provide an improved construction of roller whereby the effect of the massage is beneficially increased. Massage rollers of this type commonly comprise a roller having electrodes on its outer surface and containing a magneto-electric machine, driven through the medium of gearing on rotation of the roller, and adapted to supply current to the electrodes, and a further object of the invention is to provide means for avoiding the wear on the bearings and gearing, in this typeof roller, consequent upon the continued and sudden reversal of the magneto-electric machine as the roller is run to-and-fro over the member being massaged.

A preferred form of construction according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of a complete roller;

Flg. 2 is a sectional end elevation on line 22 of Fig. 1 and;

Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing themagnetoelectric machine.

The roller proper comprises a hollow metal cylinder 4 to which are attached end-plates 5, 5 of insulating material having at their centres suitable bearings 6 whereby the roller is adapted to rotate freely upon the central spindle or shaft 7., An intermediate disc 8, also of insulating material, is arranged inside the cylinder to provide an intermediate bearing 6 so that distortion of the shaft is prevented. The spindle 7 carries at its ends metal handles by which the device is held when in use.

The cylinder 4 has attached to its outer surface a number of massage or suction pads 9 made of rubber or like material and separated circumferentially by metal electrodes 10 which are attached to, and in electrical 421,477, and in Great Britain June 28, 1929.

contact with the cylinderf4 by means of screws or studs 11. The electrodes extend the whole length of the cylinder between the end plates and serve to hold the massage pads in position. i Y Arranged internally of the cylinder 4 is a magneto-electric machine comprising a stator 13 attached to the cylinder and provided with windings 14, and a rotor 15 consisting of a'permanent magnetic structure arranged in so as to have the same number ofpoles as the stator; in this case there aresix.

The rotor is arranged to be freely rotatable on shaft 7 and is provided at one end with a gear wheel 16 through which it, is Ci driven, if desired it may be provided [at' the other end with a flywheel prigidly attached to it and also revolving-on shaftg7. The gear 16 meshes with epicyclic gearing 17, 18 carried on pin 19 onthe plate 20 attached to end plate 5, and on-shaft7, respectively. The gear 18 rotates freely on shaft 7, but is coupled thereto, when relas tive-movement takes place in one direction, through the medium of ratchet wheel 21, rigidly fixed on shaft'7, and its co-operating pawl 22 which is spring-biased into engagement therewith as shown.

. The ends of the stator windings 14 are attached. to the cylinder 4-and to the plate 20, respectively, the latter being iii-electrical Contact, by means of the gearing, with shaft 7 and thus with the handlesyso that: upon relative rotation of the stator and rotor the current generated is applied to the member 8i: being massaged by the electrode which happens to be in contact with the member, the circuit being completed through the body of the user and the metal handles. A condenser may also be included in the circuit Q1!- if desired.

WVhen the device is in operation theaction' of. rolling during the. massaging operation, assuming that it is in the direction causing the ratchet to lock, causes the gear 17 to Ii: roll around the gear 18, which is meanwhile held relatively stationary by the handles being grasped, and the rotor 15 is thus rotated at a comparatively high speed generating a current in the windings 14, this an current being then applied as above de scribed to the member being massaged. During the return stroke of the roller the ratchet arrangement allows the rotor to confltinue rotating, due to its own inertia and to the energy given out by the flywheel, if one is fitted, until a driving force is again supplied during the next forward motion of the roller.

IVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A massage roller comprising in combination a metal cylinder rotatable upon a central shaft having handles at its ends electrodes and massage pads disposed alternately around the outer surface of said cylinder, said electrodes being in metallic connection therewith, a magneto-electric machine, arranged internally of said cylinder,

26 comprising a wound stator carried by said cylinder and a permanent magnet rotor arranged to rotate freely on said shaft, and epicyclic gearing connecting said rotor with said shaft whereby a high rate of rotation ii of said rotor relative to said stator is produced by rotation of said cylinder upon said shaft, the ends of said stator winding being connected respectively to said cylinder and I to saidv gearing so that a difference of poten- 36 tial is set up between said electrodes and said handles.

2. A massage roller device comprising in combination a metal cylinder rotatable on V a central shaft having handles at its ends,

I5 electrodes and massage pads disposed alternately around the outer surface of said cylinder, said electrodes being in metallic con nection therewith and securing said massage pads in position, a magneto electric machine 10 arranged internally of said cylinder and adapted to be driven, through the medium of gearing, on rotation of said cylinder on said shaft, the ends of the winding of said h magneto electric machine being connected 46 to said electrodes and said handles respec tively, said machine having means whereby it is allowed to continue rotating after rota tion of the cylinder has ceased or has been reversed.

3. A massage roller device according to claim 2, wherein said magneto electric machine is arranged to be driven in one direction only and allowed to continue rotating after rotation of the cylinder has ceased or has been reversed by the provision of a ratchet device in said gearing by which the magneto electric machine is driven.

WILLIAM MARTIN FENNELL SHERWOOD. 

